Digital Government Strategy Report for the Department of Health and Human Services
2.1. Engage with customers to identify at least two existing major customer-facing services that contain high-value data or content as first-move candidates to make compliant with new open data, content, and web API policy.
Overall Status: completed
2.1.1. Paragraph on customer engagement approach
Paragraph on customer engagement approach: HHS has collected more than 400 datasets at HealthData.gov. Heathdata.gov is the Department’s flagship open data resource dedicated to making high value health data more accessible to entrepreneurs, researchers, and policy makers in the hopes of better health outcomes for all. The site’s inventory of datasets is growing by more than 100 sets annually and 35 of the sets are already API enabled. Our customer engagement includes both a blog (by our CTO) and a webpage in the Open Data section of our Digital Strategy site highlighting how those API-enabled databases are being utilized in the public domain. There is a direct Call for Action asking customers to recommend datasets that should be API-enabled and discuss how the information might be used. Customers are directed to healthdata.gov, where they are asked to suggest other health databases for inclusion. The list of databases from which customers are asked to make recommendations is detailed at www.healthdata.gov. Two APIs that we have recently made public are included below.
2.1.2. Prioritized list of systems (datasets)
System Name: HealthCare Finder API (http://healthdata.gov/data/dataset/healthcare-finder-api)
System Description: All of the data used on the Finder.HealthCare.gov web application is available through the API. There are multiple collections of data available through the API including Public Options Data, Individual and Family Health Insurance Options Data, and Small Group Insurance Options Data. Visit http://www.hhs.gov/digitalstrategy/open-data/index.html to learn more about this API.
System Scope: external
Main Customer: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000004764
System Name: HealthData.gov Catalog API (http://healthdata.gov/catalog-api)
System Description: The HealthData.gov API is used to provide software developers with programmatic access to the contents of our data catalog. The API can be used to find recently added datasets, to search the catalog, to download the contents of the catalog for analysis, or to build a new data catalog tool. Visit http://www.healthdata.gov/catalog-api to learn more about this API.
System Scope: both
Main Customer: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000004764
7.1. Engage with customers to identify at least two existing priority customer-facing services to optimize for mobile use.
Overall Status: completed
7.1.1. Paragraph on customer engagement approach
Paragraph on customer engagement approach: HHS has been carefully monitoring (through metrics) the growth in use of mobile devices to access web-based information, noting carefully the sites (and content within those sites) that are of greatest interest. As of May 2013, HHS has 25 websites that are mobile enabled (either m dot or responsive design) and the department has 32 mobile apps available. Customer engagement includes a blog and a Mobile section of our Digital Strategy site. Our existing mobile sites and mobile apps are all listed here: http://www.hhs.gov/digitalstrategy/mobile/mobile-sites.html and here: http://www.hhs.gov/digitalstrategy/mobile/mobile-apps.html There is a direct Call for Action asking customers to recommend additional websites for mobile enabling. HHS has chosen not to restrict what sites might be mobile enabled. Customers may nominate any site. Nominations will be factored along with metrics information on mobile activity to determine the Department’s priorities. HHS is committed to making all new websites mobile-ready. Two mobile sites that we have recently made public are included below.
7.1.2. Prioritized list of systems (datasets)
System Name: Medicare.gov
System Description: Medicare.gov is the consumer website for Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, and advocates. The implementation of responsive design on this site allows us to support traditional desktop PCs, tablets, and smartphones all from one URL and code base. Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: external
Main Customer: Public, Seniors, People with Disabilities, Health Care Providers, Caregivers, Families
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001474
System Name: Million Hearts™
System Description: Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Million Hearts™ brings together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and private-sector partners from across the country to fight heart disease and stroke. Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: external
Main Customer: Individuals looking for information about assessing/reducing their risk for heart disease and stroke.
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000275896
4.2. Establish an agency-wide governance structure for developing and delivering digital services
Overall Status: completed
Paragraph on Governance: HHS.gov and its priority websites need to maintain timely and accurate content in order to reliably deliver important health and human service information to the nation. Below we discuss the life cycle management of content and related archiving guidance and process, which will govern the maintenance of HHS and priority websites. A website archive contains HHS’s historical documents, data, and other information that has value to researchers and the public. It separates historical documentation from current information, providing quicker access to current information while allowing citizens to access legacy information about the past programs, administrations, initiatives, and activities of the department.
URL to Governance Document: http://www.hhs.gov/web/building/managing/hhs-clm-archive-policy.html
5.2. Develop an enterprise-wide inventory of mobile devices and wireless service contracts
Overall Status: completed
5.2.1. Develop wireless and mobile inventory
Bureau/Component: Department of Health and Human Services
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: Food and Drug Administration
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: Health Resources and Services Administration
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: Indian Health Services
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: National Institutes of Health
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: Administration for Children and Families
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: Administration for Community Living
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: Departmental Management
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: Program Support Center
Inventory Status: completed
Bureau/Component: Office of the Inspector General
Inventory Status: completed
8.2. Implement performance and customer satisfaction measuring tools on all .gov websites
Overall Status: in-progress
8.2.1. Implement performance measurement tool
Implemented Digital Analytics Program: no
If Not, Describe Implementation: HHS has a well-established metrics and analytics program predating GSA’s Digital Analytics Program (DAP). As early adopters, we pride ourselves in moving beyond metrics (the gathering of data) to the formulation of a robust program which analyzes metrics in combination with our complementary customer satisfaction data (see 8.2.2) to generate specific recommendations for the improvement of web content and other digital platforms. Our end goal is to significantly improve customer experience on our digital platforms.
Since the DAP implementation instructions were released on October 2012, the HHS-ASPA Digital Team has been working with OMB and GSA to address issues surrounding how DAP integrates with our legacy program. We are currently implementing the DAP code on one of the HHS priority websites managed by the HHS Digital Communications Division to test the integration of the DAP with our legacy analytics tools. We will work with the GSA/DAP team to address any issues identified from the testing and will of course share our findings with others who may be integrating DAP with legacy systems.
Percent of websites covered: 0.869 (1 domain)
URL of performance data: N/A
8.2.2. Implement customer satisfaction tool
Describe Implementation: HHS some time ago developed a “Voice of Consumer” (VOC) tool which is deployed on many of our priority websites. We use the information gathered by this tool to make improvements to the sites. In the spirit of shared resources as outlined in the Digital Strategy, HHS has offered to make this tool, including its back-end reporting, available at no cost to all federal agencies. Code is being made open source. Ironically, our ability to use our VOC tool more widely is limited by OMB’s so-called :fast-track” survey question approval process. OMB will only consider one website survey at a time, even if identical questions are to be used on multiple websites. Approval can take up to a month. At this rate, it will take HHS years to add customer surveys to all Departmental websites.
URL of performance data: www.hhs.gov/digitalstrategy/people-first/voice-of-consumer-tool.html
1.2. Ensure all new IT systems follow the open data, content, and web API policy and operationalize agency.gov/developer pages
Overall Status: completed
1.2.1. Document policy for architecting new IT systems for openness by default
Describe policy: HHS promotes transparency, collaboration, and participation through the Open Government Plan Version 2.0 (http://www.hhs.gov/open/plan/opengovernmentplan/index.html), released in April 2012. The Open Government Plan is a revised version of the 2010
Open Government Plan (http://www.hhs.gov/open/plan/opengovernmentplan/openplanversion1_1.pdf), which released strategic datasets publicly.
HHS holds vast warehouses of health data and information, and aggressively works to provide easy access to these collections. We provide almost four hundred datasets through healthdata.gov (http://www.healthdata.gov/dataset/search?f%5b0%5d=sm_ckan_media_format%3AAPI). Thirty-four of these databases are already API-enabled. The inventory continues to grow by almost 100 datasets per year.
Activities to Publish and Promote Data Assets
HHS programs support and maintain databases for a breadth of activities, including:
• Research
• Program management
• Health and human services delivery
• Training
• Education
Additionally, new policies and activities are increasing our capability to support data transparency, including statutory and regulatory authorities that create pathways for new data products and services.
In 2010, HHS launched the Health Data Initiative (http://www.hhs.gov/open/initiatives/hdi/index.html) with the Institute of Medicine. The initiative:
• Increases and improves data clarity
• Promotes making data resources available
• Publishes new or enhanced datasets and tools to Healthdata.gov
• Syndicates resources at https://syndication.hhs.gov/
• Encourages health data use through innovative programs and projects
This project was a flagship of the first Open Government Plan and was renewed with the Open Government Plan Version 2.0.
Enhancing Data Quality and Usability
HHS is considering better ways to manage, store, retrieve, and collect data resources. This will assist with the pace of data growth, data sources complexity, and the immense data holdings across HHS.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) participates in the National Big Data Core Technology Solicitation. This group promotes the research, development, and application of tools across the federal government, including:
• Data acquisition
• Archival
• Retrieval
• Visualization
• Integration
• Interoperability
NIH also established a data and informatics working group to address the rapid growth of datasets. This focused activity on open data during FY13 and FY14 will build on the Health Data Initiative’s successes in modernizing data and information across HHS.
1.2.4. Develop Data Inventory Schedule - Summary
Summarize the Inventory Schedule: Described in the The HHS Health Data Initiative Strategy & Execution Plan. http://www.healthdata.gov/blog/health-data-initiative-strategy-execution-plan-released-and-ready-feedback#6xTGucIWabDtqRRe.99
1.2.5. Develop Data Inventory Schedule - Milestones
Title: Health Data Initiative Strategy & Execution Plan
Description: The HHS Health Data Initiative Strategy & Execution Plan is a date driven, metrics based living document that details the strategies and execution plans for the Department’s Health Data Initiative (HDI). The HDI plan describes the steps that HHS and other contributors will take to expand, enrich, and open the vast catalog of data resources in the department and across the health care and human services ecosystem. Read more at http://www.healthdata.gov/blog/health-data-initiative-strategy-execution-plan-released-and-ready-feedback#6xTGucIWabDtqRRe.99
Milestone Date: Ongoing
Description of how this milestone expands the Inventory: Described in the The HHS Health Data Initiative Strategy & Execution Plan. http://www.healthdata.gov/blog/health-data-initiative-strategy-execution-plan-released-and-ready-feedback#6xTGucIWabDtqRRe.99
Description of how this milestone enriches the Inventory: Described in the The HHS Health Data Initiative Strategy & Execution Plan. http://www.healthdata.gov/blog/health-data-initiative-strategy-execution-plan-released-and-ready-feedback#6xTGucIWabDtqRRe.99
Description of how this milestone opens the Inventory: Described in the The HHS Health Data Initiative Strategy & Execution Plan. http://www.healthdata.gov/blog/health-data-initiative-strategy-execution-plan-released-and-ready-feedback#6xTGucIWabDtqRRe.99
1.2.6. Develop Customer Feedback Process
Describe the agency's process to engage with customers: The now three-year-old Health Data Initiative (HDI), the collective effort to release vast stores of data for innovation, has at its core a mission to help improve health, healthcare, and the delivery of human services by harnessing the power of data and fostering a culture of innovative uses of data in public and private sector institutions, communities, research groups and policy making arenas. The HDI’s goal is to make health data openly available, disseminate the data broadly across the health and human services ecosystem, and continuously educate internal and external participants in the ecosystem about the value of the data.
HealthData.gov (www.healthdata.gov) serves as the discovery resource for those data assets, as well as a platform for communications, commentary on, and feedback about the data to improve the public’s understanding of each data set. The platform helps new data users discover resources they may not otherwise know exist. This site is a flexible platform that acts as a discovery resource for new and seasoned users across the healthcare ecosystem from researchers to tech/developers, and healthcare professionals to academia. Any organization or individual is free to employ the data to solve problems in the transformation of our nation’s healthcare system through data driven innovations in areas like: research; technology development; healthcare delivery; academia; policy making; human services delivery.
Methods for Customer Feedback and Public Engagement
This document describes how HHS is identifying and engaging with key data customer groups like these to help expand the value of our health data assets and prioritize the release of new data. To assist that prioritization HHS intends to capitalize on the quantity and quality of user demand it receives through various feedback channels as well as focusing on the identification of strategically relevant data assets (SRDA) tied directly to HHS’s articulated strategic goals. To ensure the customer feedback loops are meaningful and robust HHS will regularly review feedback processes and refine them as opportunities and challenges present themselves.
Here are some of the ways the HHS HDI seeks opportunities for public engagement:
*HealthData.gov (www.healthdata.gov)
Through this catalog data is available in multiple formats for maximum utilization by health care ecosystem participants. Human readable data and machine readable data formats are accessible which are spawning and feeding key transformations across health care and the delivery of human services. HHS is working to make broader volumes of machine readable data available.
The “Ideas” tab (www.healthdata.gov/ideas) on the site is designed to invite public to provide feedback to HHS. An idea could be anything from the submissions of data that you’d like to see cataloged on the platform, to ways you’d like to see the site improved, or suggestions for communications about data assets and their uses. These submissions are very informative for our data liberation strategy so send in your great ideas! The section is divided into “Most Recent” submission which is ordered by the date the idea was posted, and “Most Popular” which are ranked by the number of public votes that idea has received. Each idea can be voted on by the public using a five (5) star rating system (one (1) is the lowest rating, five (5) is the highest).
The “Q & A” tab (www.healthdata.gov/questions-answers)offers users an opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from HDI staff about the data. HHS is working to associate a direct point of contact individual, by name and email address, with each data set listing in the catalog. This will allow direct interactions about the data with the experts who have cataloged it. The tab similarly broken down by “Most recent” and “Most popular”.
Our Blog (www.healthdata.gov/blog) offers a robust source of information about the HDI’s activities including the availability of new data, some of the creative and innovative uses of health data, and the technological advancement of healthcare and human services delivery supported by data’s broadening availability.
The HDI staff makes every attempt to address ideas, questions and answers, and blog responses in a timely fashion.
*Health Datapalooza! (www.healthdatapalooza.org)– This perennial health data event is a favorite among entrepreneurs, innovators, policy makers, data geeks, researchers and more. The Health Data Initiative is widely represented during this event put on by the Health Data Consortium (www.healthdataconsortium.org), a public private partnership between government, non-profit, and private sector organizations working to foster the availability and innovative use of data to improve health and health care. HHS welcomes this opportunity to engage face to face with the many innovators that are using, or seeking to use publicly available sources to support their work and initiatives.
*Social Media – More than ever before topical conversations are occurring through social media and the open health data movement is no exception.
You can follow the Health Data Initiative on Twitter @HealthDataGov. From this account you will see announcements about new opportunities, new blog posts, and information from others on Twitter that we think is important (which could also be something you post). Be sure to follow us and remember if you have a question, just ask!
Join the health data community online using the Facebook page U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Innovations! https://www.facebook.com/pages/US-Department-of-Health-and-Human-Services-Innovations/443533355685557?_fb_noscript=1 Twitter is great, but sometimes what we have to say needs more than 140 characters. On our page you will find highlights coming from the HDI, but more importantly, it is an avenue in which you can engage directly with us.
The HDI is also participating in communities on LinkedIn, bringing the information directly to you in established LinkedIn Groups that have been working in the areas we care about the most. Look for us in various communities on LinkedIn.
1.2.7. Develop Data Publication Process
Describe the agency's data publication process: The HealthData.gov (www.healthdata.gov) online platform is the central data access point and communications vehicle for the HHS Health Data Initiative (HDI) offering access to, dissemination of, and bi-directional communications about HHS and other sources health data. The HDI is the collective effort to release vast stores of health data for innovation with a mission of improving health, healthcare, and the delivery of human services by harnessing the power of data and fostering a culture of innovative uses of data in public and private sectors. Therefore the goal for the platform is to be a highly useful, reliable platform for sharing datasets and fostering innovation. HealthData.gov will continue to be at the forefront of HDI’s efforts to create a discovery zone for HHS and other health data.
Supporting the promotion of data to the platform are Health Data Leads, liaisons representing each division across the Department who are contributors to the execution of the Health Data Initiative Strategy and Execution Plan (http://www.healthdata.gov/blog/health-data-initiative-strategy-execution-plan-released-and-ready-feedback). Each lead relies on a cadre of colleagues within their division to proactively discover and catalog data resources from the various research projects, surveys, contracts or other mechanisms for data generation and curation. This document describes the data promotion process and workflow that Health Data Leads and their teams execute at HHS.
Data Promotion Process
Here, it is assumed that each division has completed its internal process for identifying data to be cataloged and is ready to begin the process for data promotion. Therefore the first step in the workflow requires the completion of a metadata template which for catalog entry. The template requires data elements including:
1. Title: Descriptive title for the data asset to be displayed on
2. HHS Group: The Operating or Staff division within HHS responsible for the data in this catalogue entry.
3. Description: A detailed description of the dataset or tool (e.g., an abstract) that help a user to determine the nature and purpose of the data.
4. Privacy and Information Quality Certification – Attestations that the data submission meets the agency’s standards for privacy and information quality.
5. Author Information and Agency – Includes fields for:
a. HHS sub agency
b. Agency program URL
c. Data series or tool URL
d. Subject Area for the Data: Administrative, Biomedical Research, Children's Health, Epidemiology, Health Care Cost, Health Care Providers, Medicaid, Medicare, Other, Population Statistics, Quality Measurement, Safety, Treatments
e. Additional Subject Area: Searchable keywords help users discover your datasets from different perspectives, providing ways of identifying other similar datasets. Includes terms that would be used by both technical and non-technical users.
f. Date Released: Date when the dataset was first made available to the public. (Not the date the data was entered into HealthData.gov as it could have already been published on the agency website prior to being cataloged)
g. Date Updated: Date of last change to dataset or tool. (Note that this could be the same as the date released if the data has not changed since first being published.)
h. Contact Information: Name and email address for the individual making the catalogue entry.
i. Data Collection Date and Frequency: N/A, Annually, Daily, Monthly, Quarterly, Semi-Weekly
j. Data Coverage Period: Dates covered by the data
6. Data Documentation:
a. Technical Documentation URL: URL for the technical documentation for this dataset. This may include description to the study design, instrumentation, implementation, limitations, and appropriate use of the dataset or tool.
b. Data Dictionary URL: URL to resource containing variable names, descriptions, standard vocabularies and taxonomies, units, multipliers, etc. if different from the technical documentation URL.
c. Data Collection Instrument URL: URL for resource containing a copy of, or detailed descriptions of, the data collection instrument, if different from the technical documentation.
d. Dataset Use Requires a License Agreement: This is a required field to ensure that license agreements are not bypassed during the one-click download interface on the website.
e. Dataset License Agreement URL: URL to the license agreement page for the dataset or tool, if there is one.
7. Resources
a. Access Point URL: If the data set is downloadable, enter the URL for instant access to the downloadable data file. This is the URL for access to the data set via a "one-click download".
b. Media Format - In some cases files are downloaded in a compressed file (e.g. zip).
Data Promotion Roles
The specific roles of each individual in the workflow are Author, Editor, and Approver: The responsibilities for each role are detailed below.
Author:
Initiates the data catalog entry based on the current version of the metadata template. Authors strive for adherence to Plain Language writing guidance to make the entry understandable for technical audiences and the general public. When the data appears in the live online catalog it can be easily found using key words entered in the template during this step. They also attest the submission meets agency privacy guidelines and information quality guidelines. Authors may assign themselves as the public's point of contact (POC) for a data set, or insert the alternate contact information for a colleague who is the POC or the subject matter expert (SME) for the data or tool. The author typically is not the Health Data Lead, but a colleague within the same division or a contractor supporting the project where the data originates. Once completed, the catalogue entry's status is advanced to "Editor Review".
Editor:
Editors, typically the Health Data Lead for their HHS division, are tasked with reviewing the initial catalog entry drafted by an author, then advanced to "Editor Review" status. Their review consists of reviewing the metadata confirming adherence to Plain Language guidelines, adding key words, and confirming the attestations for .... . An editor may ask the author to modify or adjust a catalog entry. Once the editor has completed their review and modifications have been made, the catalogue entry’s status is advanced to "Awaiting Approval".
Approver:
The Approver performs the final check on all elements of the catalog entry before it is made public on the platform. Approvers verify compliance with administrative procedures and with internal protocols for data promotion. Once the Approver has completed their review the catalogue entry’s status is advanced to “Approved”.
Once approved, the catalogue appears on HealthData.gov within minutes. Updates to already cataloged data assets are processed through the workflow again offering the Author an opportunity to alter the metadata to accurately reflect the update, allowing the Editor to re-validate that privacy and plain language compliance before being re-approved.
2.2. Make high-value data and content in at least two existing, major customer-facing systems available through web APIs, apply metadata tagging and publish a plan to transition additional high-value systems
Overall Status: completed
2.2.1. Publish plan on future activity
Describe policy: Two Highlighted Cases
HealthCare Finder API
One of the largest API-enabled databases is the HealthCare Finder (http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/healthcare-finder-api), which provides information on public and private health insurance plans. This API has been particularly successful with entrepreneurs in the private sector. U.S. News & World Report uses it to help consumers find the best health insurance plans (http://health.usnews.com/health-insurance) for their specific needs. It provides the data the magazine’s application sort through to rate plans based on coverage and costs, both monthly and out-of-pocket.
Health Indicators Warehouse API
The Health Indicators Warehouse—another example of an API-enabled database—offers users access to community health statistics from around the county. It brings together quality health measurements from various offices and programs in a single, user-friendly data source for national, state, and community health information.
The Health Indicators Warehouse API (http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/health-indicators-warehouse) lets users:
• Identify health trends over time
• Filter data by geographic area, disease/condition, demographics, or initiative
This allows users to link changes in health indicators with interventions and treatment programs. Such evidence-based research was not possible before the Warehouse was established.
Future Plans
Integrating data and information services across HHS will be a priority initiative in 2014. Through this work we will build on past successes, like the HealthCare Finder and Health Indicators Warehouse, to create new opportunities for the public to access health data. As we look to the future, we will also renew our commitment to improving the quantity, quality and usability of the data we publish.
2.2.2. Make 2+ systems (datasets) available via web APIs with metadata tags
Name of system: HealthCare Finder API
Description of system: All of the data used on the Finder.HealthCare.gov web application is available through the API. There are multiple collections of data available through the API including Public Options Data, Individual and Family Health Insurance Options Data, and Small Group Insurance Options Data.
Scope of system: external
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000004764
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/healthcare-finder-api
Name of system: Health Indicators Warehouse API
Description of system: Data sets contain National, Hospital Referral Region, and State level information on Medicare's Aged Fee-for-Service Population. Information includes Chronic Condition and Disease Prevalence, Population Characteristics, Health Care Utilization, and Quality Indicators.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001474
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/health-indicators-warehouse
Name of system: Healthdata.gov Catalog API
Description of system: The HealthData.gov API is used to provide software developers with programmatic access to the contents of our data catalog. The API can be used to find recently added datasets, to search the catalog, to download the contents of the catalog for analysis, or to build a new data catalog tool.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000004764
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/healthdatagov-catalog-api
Name of system: Home Health Compare
Description of system: The data provided includes demographics, Medicare-certified services, quality measures, state averages for measures, and zip codes in which each home health agency has provided services to. The data used to calculate the quality measures will be refreshed the third month of each quarter and represent a rolling 12 months of data.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: health policy researchers and the media
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001474
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/home-health-compare
Name of system: Nursing Home Compare
Description of system: Demographic data is refreshed monthly while quality measures are refreshed the first month of each quarter. In order to ease the downloading process, the data have been divided into 5 separate databases. About the Nursing Home About the Nursing Home Inspection Results About the Nursing Home Residents About the Nursing Home Staff About the Nursing Home Ratings
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: health policy researchers and the media
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001474
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/nursing-home-compare
Name of system: ClinicalTrials.gov API
Description of system: Provides information on clinical trials for a wide range of diseases and conditions.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: patients, family members, health care professionals, and members of the public
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002064
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/clinicaltrialsgov-linking-patients-medical-research
Name of system: Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER)
Description of system: WONDER online databases include county-level Compressed Mortality (death certificates) since 1979; county-level Multiple Cause of Death (death certificates) since 1999; county-level Natality (birth certificates) since 1995; county-level Linked Birth / Death records (linked birth-death certificates) since 1995; state & large metro-level United States Cancer Statistics mortality (death certificates) since 1999; state & large metro-level United States Cancer Statistics incidence (cancer registry cases) since 1999; state and metro-level Online Tuberculosis Information System (TB case reports) since 1993; state-level Sexually Transmitted Disease Morbidity (case reports) since 1984; state-level Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting system (adverse reaction case reports) since 1990; county-level population estimates since 1970. The WONDER web server also hosts the Data2010 system with state-level data for compliance with Healthy People 2010 goals since 1998; the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System weekly provisional case reports since 1996; the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System weekly death reports since 1996; the Prevention Guidelines database (book in electronic format) published 1998; the Scientific Data Archives (public use data sets and documentation); and links to other online data sources on the "Topics" page.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001388
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/wide-ranging-online-data-epidemiologic-research-wonder
Name of system: Dialysis Facility Compare
Description of system: Collection period for the measures: 1. Patients With Anemia That Wasn't Controlled and 2. Patients Who Had Enough Wastes Removed From Their Blood During Dialysis (Dialysis Adequacy) is calendar year 2007. Collection period for the measure Patient Survival is January 2004 to December 2007. Demographic data is refreshed the second month of each quarter while quality measures are refreshed yearly in November.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: health policy researchers and the media
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001474
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/dialysis-facility-compare
Name of system: Genetics home reference
Description of system: The National Library of Medicine's web site for consumer information about genetic conditions and the genes responsible for those conditions.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002059
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/genetics-home-reference
Name of system: TOXNET
Description of system: A cluster of databases on toxicology, hazardous chemicals, and related areas.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001306
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/toxnet
Name of system: PubChem
Description of system: PubChem contains the chemical structures of small organic molecules and information on their biological activities. PubChem includes substance information, compound structures, and bioactivity data in three primary databases, PCSubstance, PCCompound, and PCBioAssay, respectively. PubChem is integrated with Entrez, NCBI's primary search engine, and also provides compound neighboring, sub/superstructure, similarity structure, bioactivity data, and other searching features.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002051
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/pubchem
Name of system: MedlinePlus Health Topic Web Service
Description of system: A search-based Web service that provides access to disease, condition and wellness information via MedlinePlus health topic data in XML format. The service accepts keyword searches as requests and returns relevant MedlinePlus health topics in ranked order. The service also returns health topics summaries, search result snippets and other associated data.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002049
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/medlineplus-health-topic-web-service
Name of system: DailyMed
Description of system: The DailyMed RESTful API is a web service for accessing current SPL information. It is implemented using HTTP and can be thought of as a collection of resources, specified as URLs.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002049
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/dailymed-webservices
Name of system: CDC WONDER: Population (from Census)
Description of system: The Population online databases contain data from the US Census Bureau. The Census Estimates online database contains county-level population counts for years 1970 - 2000. The data comprise the April 1st Census counts for years 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000, the July 1st intercensal estimates for years 1971-1979 and 1981-1989, and the July 1st postcensal estimates for years 1991-1999. The Census Projections online database contains population projections for years 2004-2030 by year, state, age, race and sex, produced by the Census Bureau in 2005. The data are produced by the United States Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001388
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/cdc-wonder-population-census-0
Name of system: CDC WONDER: Mortality- Infants Death
Description of system: The Mortality - Infant Deaths (from Linked Birth / Infant Death Records) online databases on CDC WONDER provide counts and rates for deaths of children under 1 year of age, occurring within the United States to U.S. residents. Information from death certificates has been linked to corresponding birth certificates. Data are available by state and county of mother's residence, child's age at death, year of death, underlying cause of death (ICD-10 codes for years 1999 and later, ICD-9 codes for years 1995-1998), gender, birth weight, birth plurality, birth order, birthplace, method of delivery, birth attendant, gestational age at birth, period of prenatal care, maternal race and ethnicity, maternal age, maternal education and marital status. Data are available since 1995. The data are produced by the National Center for Health Statistics.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001388
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/cdc-wonder-mortality-infants-death
Name of system: Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST)
Description of system: The Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) finds regions of local similarity between sequences. The program compares nucleotide or protein sequences to sequence databases and calculates the statistical significance of matches. BLAST can be used to infer functional and evolutionary relationships between sequences as well as help identify members of gene families.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002055
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/basic-local-alignment-search-tool-blast
Name of system: ChemSpell
Description of system: The ChemSpell Web Service API provides chemical name spell checking and chemical name synonym look-up. ChemSpell contains more than 1.3 million chemical names related to organic, inorganic, pharmaceutical, toxicological, and environmental health topics. ChemIDplus is the source for ChemSpell. When a chemical name is entered, ChemSpell returns a list of chemical synonyms if the spelling is correct. If the spelling is incorrect, it returns a list of suggestions for alternate spellings.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001306
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/chemspell
Name of system: Entrez Programming Utilities (E-Utilities)
Description of system: The Entrez Programming Utilities (E-utilities) are a set of eight server-side programs that provide a stable interface into the Entrez query and database system at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The E-utilities use a fixed URL syntax that translates a standard set of input parameters into the values necessary for various NCBI software components to search for and retrieve the requested data. The E-utilities are therefore the structured interface to the Entrez system, which currently includes 38 databases covering a variety of biomedical data, including nucleotide and protein sequences, gene records, three-dimensional molecular structures, and the biomedical literature.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002058
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/entrez-programming-utilities-e-utilities
Name of system: PubChem Power User Gateway (PUG)
Description of system: The PubChem Power User Gateway (PUG) provides access to PubChem services via a programmatic interface. The basic design principle is straightforward. There is a single CGI (pug.cgi, referred to hereafter as simply PUG) that is the central gateway to multiple PubChem functions. PUG takes no URL arguments; all communication with PUG is through XML. To perform any request, one formulates input in XML and then HTTP POST it to PUG. The CGI interprets your incoming request, initiates the appropriate action, then returns results (also) in XML format.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002051
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/pubchem-power-user-gateway-pug
Name of system: RxNorm
Description of system: RxNorm provides normalized names for clinical drugs and links its names to many of the drug vocabularies commonly used in pharmacy management and drug interaction software. There are two RxNorm APIs (SOAP/WSDL and RESTful) available to provide developers with functions for retrieving RxNorm data from the most current RxNorm data set. Data can be returned in XML or JSON.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002065
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/rxnorm
Name of system: RxTerms
Description of system: RxTerms is a drug interface terminology derived from RxNorm for prescription writing or medication history recording (e.g. in e-prescribing systems, PHRs). There RxTerms API provides developers with functions for retrieving RxTerms data from the most current RxTerms data set. The API uses RESTful calls and responses are formatted in XML and JSON.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002065
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/rxterms
Name of system: Semantic Knowledge Representation (SKR)
Description of system: This Java-based API to the Semantic Knowledge Representation (SKR) Scheduler facility was created to provide users with the ability to programmatically submit jobs to the Scheduler Batch and Interactive facilities instead of using the web-based interface. The SKR Project was initiated at NLM in order to develop programs to provide usable semantic representation of biomedical free text by building on resources currently available at the library.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002065
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/semantic-knowledge-representation-skr
Name of system: Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) Terminology Services API
Description of system: Database of key terminology, classification and coding standards, and associated resources to promote creation of more effective and interoperable biomedical information systems and services, including electronic health records. This set of files and software brings together many health and biomedical vocabularies and standards to enable interoperability between computer systems. Users can use the UMLS to enhance or develop applications, such as electronic health records, classification tools, dictionaries and language translators.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002065
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/unified-medical-language-system-umls-terminology-services-api
Name of system: DIRLINE
Description of system: DIRLINE API offers a RESTful Web Service API that allows users to search the DIRLINE database with keywords. DIRLINE (Directory of Information Resources Online) is the National Library of Medicine's online database containing location and descriptive information about a wide variety of information resources including organizations, research resources, projects, and databases concerned with health and biomedicine. This information may not be readily available in bibliographic databases. Each record may contain information on the publications, holdings, and services provided.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001306
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/dirline
Name of system: MetaMap
Description of system: MetaMap is a highly configurable program developed by Dr. Alan (Lan) Aronson at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to map biomedical text to the UMLS Metathesaurus or, equivalently, to discover Metathesaurus concepts referred to in text. MetaMap uses a knowledge-intensive approach based on symbolic, natural-language processing (NLP) and computational-linguistic techniques. Besides being applied for both IR and data-mining applications, MetaMap is one of the foundations of NLM's Medical Text Indexer (MTI) which is being used for both semiautomatic and fully automatic indexing of biomedical literature at NLM.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002065
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/metamap
Name of system: Pillbox Beta
Description of system: Pillbox enables rapid identification of unknown solid-dosage medications (tablets/capsules) based on physical characteristics and high-resolution images. Once a medication is identified, Pillbox provides links to drug information and drug labels. Pillbox and the data provided by this API are currently under development and are not intended for clinical use. This data is presented as part of a research and development effort.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001306
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/pillbox-beta
Name of system: National Drug File - Reference Terminology
Description of system: The National Drug File-Reference Terminology (NDF-RT), developed by the Veterans Health Administration, provides clinical information about medications, including therapeutic intent, mechanism of action, physiologic effect and drug-drug interactions. Developers can use the API to retrieve data from the NDF-RT. The API uses both REST and SOAP protocol and responses are formatted in XML and JSON.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002065
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/national-drug-file-reference-terminology
Name of system: Hospital Compare
Description of system: The data provided includes process of care, mortality, and readmission quality measures. The collection period for the measures is generally 12 months. However, some measures may be based upon fewer than 12 months. Generally, the Hospital Compare quality measures are refreshed the third month of each quarter.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: health policy researchers and the media
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001474
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/hospital-compare
Name of system: MedlinePlus Health Topic XML Files
Description of system: XML files containing information resources on diseases, conditions and wellness issues. MedlinePlus produces three types of health topic XML files – MedlinePlus health topic XML, MedlinePlus compressed health topic XML (.zip format) and MedlinePlus health topic group XML. Each file covers both English and Spanish health topics and health topic groups from MedlinePlus. DTDs are included. NOTE - This dataset is updated daily, every Tuesday-Saturday.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002049
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/medlineplus-health-topic-xml-files-0
Name of system: TXT4Tots Message Library - English
Description of system: TXT4Tots is a library of short, evidence-based messages focused on nutrition and physical activity. The library is targeted to parents and caregivers of children, ages 1-5 years, and is available in English and Spanish. Content for the messages was derived from American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children and Adolescents, which uses a developmentally based approach to address children’s health needs in the context of family and community.
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT Community
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000004764
API Link: http://www.healthdata.gov/data/dataset/txt4tots-message-library-english
Name of system: National Institute on Drug Abuse Use Screening Tool API
Description of system: This tool guides clinicians through a series of questions to identify risky substance use in their adult patients. The accompanying resources assist clinicians in providing patient feedback and arranging for specialty care, where necessary, using the 5 As of intervention.
Scope of system: external
Main Customers: This tool targets health care providers and medical clinicians with possible Electronic Health Record integration if they so desire.
Unique Investment Identifier: NIDA does not report these investments as IT investments, therefore there are no UIIs for this. This work was done as part of our research and research dissemination contracts with the web portions a small component of these contracts.
API Link: http://www.drugabuse.gov/developers
Name of system: OpenFDA API (https://api.fda.gov)
Description of system: OpenFDA provides APIs and raw download access to a number of high-value structured datasets, including adverse events and recall enforcement reports. The platform is currently in public beta. In the future, openFDA will provide a platform for public challenges issued by the FDA and a place for the community to interact with each other and FDA domain experts with the goal of spurring innovation around FDA data
Scope of system: both
Main Customers: Public, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers, Health IT
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000004764
API Link: https://api.fda.gov
5.3. Evaluate the government-wide contract vehicles in the alternatives analysis for all new mobile-related procurements
Overall Status: in-progress
Describe Implementation: HHS is currently in the process of establishing a Vendor Management Office (VMO) which will be in charge of evaluating government-wide contract vehicles in the alternatives analysis for all new mobile-related procurements. Vendor Management is an acquisition practice used to manage and optimize an organization’s portfolio of acquisition vehicles to provide both cost savings and cost avoidance, and to improve satisfaction with contractor services and performance. HHS will establish a Vendor Management Organization (VMO) to streamline IT acquisition established for Agencies in the Federal CIO’s IT Reform 25-Point Plan.
To do so, HHS will take the following steps:
1. Develop a HHS definition of Vendor Management and VMO that can be agreed upon by the Associate Secretary for Administration (ASA), and the Associate Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR), and other key stakeholders in the IT and Acquisition communities and reach agreement on a number of issues surrounding Vendor Management which include Roles and responsibilities, Goals and Objectives, and integration with existing business processes and practices at HHS.
2. Hold a series of facilitated, structured, and decisional meetings with Senior Managers and Executives, and other key stakeholders that will lead to agreement on roles, responsibilities, goals, objectives, and integration with existing business processes at HHS.
3. Develop a pilot VMO and, in parallel, develop a VMO Business Case with at least three alternatives proposing approaches to developing and maintaining a VMO at HHS.
4. Review existing contracts for consolidation into existing government-wide procurement vehicles or into new Enterprise Agreements.
Vendor Management will enable HHS to control costs, drive service excellence and mitigate risks to gain increased value from their vendors. This will allow HHS optimally develop, manage and control vendor contracts, relationships and performance for the efficient delivery of contracted products and services.
6.3. Ensure all new digital services follow digital services and customer experience improvement guidelines
Overall Status: completed
Describe Implementation: Technology changes rapidly. Today, the federal government must provide information across a growing number of platforms with limited resources. Federal workers and the American people increasingly expect to access accurate information from anywhere, at anytime, on any device.
HHS is modernizing the Department’s digital services though technical improvements, coordination, and improved customer service. These strategies are not new to the Department and they are already being practiced at all levels within HHS.
HHS approach:
• Ensuring Our Sites Are Optimized for Mobile: In August 2012, HHS offered 12 websites optimized for mobile and 25 mobile health applications. As of April 2013, we offer 25 mobile websites and 30 mobile applications. Highlights of mobile implementations launched during this period include:
o Medicare.gov: Medicare.gov is the consumer website for Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, and advocates. The implementation of responsive design on this site allows us to support traditional desktop PCs, tablets, and smartphones all from one URL and code base.
o MillionHearts.gov: Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Million Hearts™ brings together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and private-sector partners from across the country to fight heart disease and stroke. The site is offered in responsive design.
• Collecting Qualitative Customer Satisfaction Data with the Voice-of-Consumer (VOC) Tool: The VOC tool, developed in-house, allows HHS to create site-wide and page-level customer surveys and polls. HHS uses site-level surveys to collect qualitative data for overall customer engagement on our websites. HHS also uses page-level surveys to determine whether content on a particular page is useful. With this information we can make data-driven decisions to improve the Department’s digital offerings on an ongoing basis.
• Making Content Mobile-Ready: HHS uses plain language, bulleted lists, and clear headings to make sure content is scannable and easy to read and understand. We create content using an inverted pyramid and the bite/snack/meal approach to content development. This approach involves placing most important information at the top of the page, followed by the details. his allows small-screen users to get summary information quickly and dig in to the details if needed. Opportunely, this style serves desktop users better as well.
• Revisiting our Visual Approach: HHS is reworking how we use images in billboards and body copy of text on webpages themselves. This new approach is based on metrics and how well images play in mobile environments. By using less “fluff” imagery and more meaningful infographics, we are able to tell more convincing stories. Well designed infographics allow us to explain a lot in a little space, making verbose content unnecessary. This approach was successfully applied to the budget rollout (http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/index.html) by using a short infographic to highlight how the 2014 budget will create a healthier America. This infographic was shared hundreds of times on social media and was a successful way to simplify the complex topic of fiscal policy.
• Organizing Content around Topics: HHS has 29 Operating and Staff Divisions, but that doesn’t mean digital information should be divided in the same way. The public doesn’t care which unit produced a report or owns a topic, so we are building topic-based websites to better serve the American public. For example, in fall 2012, we launched BeTobaccoFree.gov which provides consumers with one-stop access to tobacco-related Web content from across the HHS family. Currently we maintain 37 topic based websites on everything from Alzheimer’s (http://www.alzheimers.gov/) to vaccines (http://www.vaccines.gov/). Our goal, in addition to providing one-stop consumer access, is to reduce the overall number of websites. Unfortunately, the proposed new dot gov domain policy works against topical website consolidation. The prohibition against new dot gov domains (i.e, TopicX.gov) is a serious obstacle to the creation of topical sites that cross federal boundaries. FoodSafety.gov, which is co-managed by HHS and USDA, would not be possible under the proposed policy.
• Tagging content: By building tagging systems into our content, we ensure that it can be used in a lot of different environments – on mobile devices, in responsive design layouts, in social media, Application Program Interfaces, Rich Site Summary (RSS) feeds, etc. and, of course, on our webpages.
Impact on Performance Goals
A comprehensive list of the HHS Performance Goals can be located at: Agency performance goals: http://www.hhs.gov/budget/performance-appendix-fy2013.pdf
Improving the digital services we provide customers advance many of our performance goals, including:
• Reducing Foodborne Illnesses: http://www.foodsafety.gov/ is undergoing a metrics-driven homepage refresh. After a number of months of focus group based usability testing, reviewing analytics reports and comparative A/B testing the team is moving into the final phases of refreshing the home page. A Visual Website Optimizer tool is being applied to this project so multiple design options can be tested. The proposed changes and subsequent 10-week testing plan aim to resolve usability issues and ultimately help our deliver high-value content that will decrease the incidence of food borne illness across the nation.
• Reducing Tobacco Use: The website http://betobaccofree.hhs.gov/ launched in November 2012. This site brings together the best tobacco-related information from across HHS. In the spirit of the Digital Government Strategy, it provides consumers with one-stop access to more than 120 different collections of tobacco-related Web content from across the federal family. HHS provides content in a range of formats, including text, video, audio, and infographics. This allows visitors to use several learning methods. The site uses responsive design, so it resizes automatically to any screen size, from desktop to tablet to smartphone.
• Strengthen Health Care: The website HeathCare.gov is being rebuilt using reliable and secure open source tools. Our code will be made available to the public on GitHub. Structured content and open data will power the new HealthCare.gov. As a result, the uninsured will be able to have a seamless experience from learning about the Marketplace to signing up to eligibility and ultimately coverage in the Health Insurance Marketplace. All content will be sharable and reusable, made available through an API.
7.2. Optimize at least two existing priority customer-facing services for mobile use and publish a plan for improving additional existing services
Overall Status: completed
Describe Implementation: HHS works to deliver the information the public needs where they need it, anytime, anywhere, on any device. According to estimates by Microsoft (http://tag.microsoft.com/community/blog/t/the_growth_of_mobile_marketing_and_tagging.aspx), there were more than 100 million smartphone users at the end of 2012. Experts predict that by 2014 most Web browsing will take place from a mobile device. This will put desktop browsing in the same category as landlines, music CDs, and TV without built-in recording capabilities. HHS is using m.dot-websites, responsive design implementations, and applications to meet the public in the palm of its hand.
Two Highlighted Cases
Million Hearts™
In early 2012, CDC worked with teams across HHS to launch the Million Hearts™ website (http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/index.html). That summer, we released a second phase of the site which uses responsive design. Implemented in multiple phases, millionhearts.hhs.gov was built with both desktop and mobile devices in mind from the start. This allowed the developers to deploy responsive design much faster. Million Hearts™ was CDC’s first opportunity to work in responsive design. Through the project, the the Million Hearts™ team accomplished several components of the Digital Strategy:
1. Mobile: the Million Hearts™ website is the first operated by HHS to be build from the ground up with mobile in mind. Many lessons learned were developed from this experience and continue to be applied across the Department.
2. People First: Heart health and high blood pressure are persistent concerns among Hispanic/Latino groups. To better serve this population the Million Hearts™ offers a Spanish version of the site that was developed with the help of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health to ensure the cultural integrity of the content.
3. Working Better: the Million Hearts™ website is the first of the CDC’s “one web” implementations. Currently the agency operates desktop and ‘m.dot’ versions of its eponymous website CDC.gov. With the knowledge gained from launching Million Hearts™ in responsive design, the Agency is in the process of updating the CDC website to be a single responsive design site.
Medicare.gov
Medicare.gov is the consumer website for Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, and advocates. In 2012, the site underwent an upgrade, moving it into a new content management system. After seeing the opportunities it offered, the site’s developers used that opportunity to implement responsive design. The updated site launched in September 2012. This redesign meets three major components of the Digital Strategy for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):
1. Mobile: The redesign was CMS’ first full dive into mobile-friendly web design.
2. Working Better: The migration of Medicare.gov to the Percussion content management system means that for the first time, all of CMS' manages all of its public websites in the same system. This greatly increases efficiencies and allows them to reuse the same management processes across all of their websites.
3. People First: The redesign fully embraced the principles of good Web management and governance (http://www.howto.gov/web-content/manage). It is the result of more than two years of research, design, and development work by CMS. Using call center questions, website analytics, and online survey results, CMS identified top user tasks including finding out what Medicare covers, cost and coordination of benefits information, and finding Medicare drug and health plans.
Future Plans
For many, mobile devices are now their main or only experience of Web-based content and functionality. And while mobile is quickly becoming the primary way people access the Internet, it is a profoundly different medium from the Web as we have known it on desktop and laptop computers. The mobile Web offers different interfaces, content, interactivity, and context than traditional desktop browsing. Mobile defines the nature of the Web experience and Web properties for these users, and will have an enormous impact on how HHS presents itself online. It is likely that all future Web designs and redesigns will begin as Million Hearts™ did, with a mobile site concept that is expanded to create the larger-screen portal.
In response to this change, HHS is taking a mobile first approach to its work. Upcoming mobile Web implementations include:
• FY13:
o Heathcare.gov
o GirlsHeath.gov
o Usability.gov
o The National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health (http://www.nimh.nih.gov)
• FY14:
o Women.Smokefree.gov
o Vaccines.gov
o WomensHealth.gov
o GlobalHealth.gov
o The Office of Population Affairs, HHS (http://www.hhs.gov/opa)
o The National Institutes of Health (http://www.nih.gov)
o The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health (http://www.niaid.nih.gov)
o The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health (http://www.ninds.nih.gov)
o The Intramural Research Program (http://irp.nih.gov)
o The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health (http://nccam.nih.gov)
o The National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health (http://www.nigms.nih.gov)
o The Office of Disease Prevention, National Institutes of Health (http://prevention.nih.gov)
o The Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health (http://ods.od.nih.gov/)
7.2.1. Report on services
Service Name: Million Hearts™
Service Description: Heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of death in the United States. Million Hearts™ brings together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and private-sector partners from across the country to fight heart disease and stroke.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: external
Primary customers: Individuals looking for information about assessing/reducing their risk for heart disease and stroke
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000275896
URL of service: http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/index.html
Service Name: Medicare.gov
Service Description: Medicare.gov is the consumer website for Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, and advocates. The implementation of responsive design on this site allows us to support traditional desktop PCs, tablets, and smartphones all from one URL and code base.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: external
Primary customers: Public, Seniors, People with Disabilities, Health Care Providers, Caregivers, Families
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001474
URL of service: http://www.medicare.gov/
Service Name: BeTobaccoFree.gov
Service Description: BeTobaccoFree.gov brings together the best tobacco-related information from across HHS. It provides consumers with one-stop access to more than 120 different federal sources of tobacco-related Web content.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: external
Primary customers: Primary audiences: American public including parents, teachers, students, current smokers, potential quitters. Secondary audiences: researchers, policy makers, friends and family of current smokers.
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000005797
URL of service: http://www.betobaccofree.gov/
Service Name: Heathfinder.gov
Service Description: The public’s source for reliable health information from the Federal government. Offering quick guides to healthy living, personalized health advice, and tips and tools to help you and those you care about stay healthy.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: external
Primary customers: General public looking for health information with low health literacy and/or low Internet skills
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000000961
URL of service: http://healthfinder.gov/
Service Name: Office of Inspector General
Service Description: The HHS OIG is the largest inspector general's office in the Federal Government, with more than 1,700 employees dedicated to combating fraud, waste and abuse and to improving the efficiency of HHS programs. A majority of the OIG's resources goes toward the oversight of Medicare and Medicaid.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: both
Primary customers: Health Care Providers, Compliance Officers, Associations, Congress, Public
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000236976
URL of service: https://oig.hhs.gov/
Service Name: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Service Description: Home Page of NIEHS, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, which conducts basic research on environmental health and environment-related diseases. Links to information on programs, grants, research, events, contracts, employment, training, outreach events, public information.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: external
Primary customers: Scientists and health experts, laypeople interested in health, science and the environment, students, grantees, the press, job seekers
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000001270
URL of service: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/
Service Name: Solve the Outbreak Application
Service Description: You may not be a disease detective, but now you can play one at home. This game allows users to run through fictional outbreaks and make decisions: Do you quarantine the village? Talk to people who are sick? The game offers a great way to take the study of epidemiology outside the classroom.
Platforms: iPad
System Scope: external
Primary customers: Primary: teachers, teens, young adults Secondary: general consumer
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000000532
URL of service: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/solve-the-outbreak/id592485067?mt=8
Service Name: AHRQ Health Care Innovations Exchange
Service Description: The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality created the Health Care Innovations Exchange to speed the implementation of new and better ways of delivering health care. The Innovations Exchange supports the Agency's mission to improve the quality of health care and reduce disparities.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: both
Primary customers: Nurses, health administrators, policymakers and researchers.
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000224916
URL of service: http://m.innovations.ahrq.gov/
Service Name: Eldercare.gov
Service Description: The Eldercare Locator, a public service of the Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a nationwide service that connects older Americans and their caregivers with information on senior services.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: external
Primary customers: Older adults, caregivers and aging professionals
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000000584
URL of service: http://www.eldercare.gov/
Service Name: HHS.gov/DigitalStrategy
Service Description: HHS uses this website to engage the public, report progress on the implementation of the Digital Government Strategy, showcase digital strategy best practices, and test new technology and tools. Visit http://www.hhs.gov/digitalstrategy/ to learn more.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: both
Primary customers: Public, HHS employees, federal employees, OMB, GSA, Innovators, Entrepreneurs, Developers
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000005797
URL of service: http://www.hhs.gov/digitalstrategy/
Service Name: National Library of Medicine Mobile Web App
Service Description: This inventory of all the mobile assets offered by the National Library of Medicine includes both web and applications driven items. The app itself was created in HTML5 and in accessible from all mobile devices at the link.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: both
Primary customers: healthcare providers, health information consumers, researchers, scientists & librarians
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002049
URL of service: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/mobile-app/
Service Name: CDC Influenza (Flu) Application
Service Description: The CDC Influenza application is for health care professionals. It offers update-to-date information on national flu activity and the latest recommendations for diagnosis and treatment. New information is ‘pushed’ to your device whenever you have a signal, so you never have to search for the most up-to-date information.
Platforms: iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.
System Scope: external
Primary customers: Healthcare providers
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000000532
URL of service: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cdc-influenza-flu/id577782055
Service Name: My Dietary Supplements (MyDS)
Service Description: This tool is a Web-based application only available on mobile devices, not to be confused with a mobile app. Simply enter the names and amounts of your dietary supplements, and they'll be stored for your use anytime, anywhere—for example, when seeing your doctor or shopping. With MyDS you also can email your personal list of dietary supplements to yourself or to your health care providers and print it out for reference.
Platforms: mobile website application
System Scope: external
Primary customers: Drug consumers and supplement users.
Unique Investment Identifier: The Office of Dietary Supplements does not report these investments as IT investments, therefore there are no UIIs for this. This work was done as part of communication outreach with the web portions a small component of these contracts.
URL of service: http://ods.od.nih.gov/HealthInformation/mobile/aboutmyds.aspx AND https://myds.nih.gov/
Service Name: MyMedList (MML) Application
Service Description: A record of current and past medications is useful if not vital information to an individual. Such information needs to be easily accessible, yet adequately protected. MyMedList is an application developed at the National Library of Medicine. MML allows users to manage their medication list, and control access to it. The personal medication list can be printed out to share, can be mailed to a relative, can serve as a reminder to the individual for taking medications, or be shown as reference information in doctor’s offices or hospitals.
Platforms: Apple iOS devices
System Scope: external
Primary customers: Public consumers of any medications or supplements
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002049
URL of service: http://nnlm.gov/psr/newsbits/2012/08/14/mymedlist-now-available-from-the-nlm-gallery-of-mobile-apps-and-sites/
Service Name: PubMed
Service Description: PubMed offers multiple ways to search the PubMed database, including a mobile website and mobile applications for iOS and Andriod devices. This archive contains more than 22 million references for biomedical literature from science journals, and online books. In the app you can ask a general question, search keywords in specific fields, and read abstracts of articles. The iOS version also gives you search options in 13 languages.
Platforms: mobile website, app for iOS and Android devices
System Scope: both
Primary customers: Scientists and health experts, students, grantees.
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000002059
URL of service: http://pubmedhh.nlm.nih.gov/
Service Name: HIV.gov
Service Description: HIV.gov has three objectives:
1. Expand visibility of timely and relevant Federal HIV policies, programs, and resources to the American public.
2. Increase use of new media tools by government, minority, and other community partners to extend the reach of HIV programs to communities at greatest risk.
3. Increase knowledge about HIV and access to HIV services for people most at-risk for, or living with, HIV.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: external
Primary customers: Primary: general public looking for information about risks and Community based organizations and grantees. Secondary: Researchers, Educators.
Unique Investment Identifier: 009-000282596
URL of service: http://hiv.gov/
Service Name: drugabuse.gov
Service Description: Comprehensive drug abuse related website with research, treatment reports and news. Includes a site for teachers and students with educational materials.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: both
Primary customers: This is NIDA’s primary site, with an audience representing a wide swath of the population. It is broken down into the following audience channels: Researchers, Medical & Health professionals, Patients & Families, Teachers & Parents, and Students and Young Adults.
Unique Investment Identifier: NIDA does not report these investments as IT investments, therefore there are no UIIs for this. This work was done as part of our research and research dissemination contracts with the web portions a small component of these contracts.
URL of service: http://www.drugabuse.gov/
Service Name: teens.drugabuse.gov
Service Description: The National Institute on Drug Abuse website for Teens. Helps educate adolescents ages 11 through 15 (as well as their parents and teachers) on the science behind drug abuse.
Platforms: mobile website
System Scope: external
Primary customers: targeted to teens and pre-teens, as well as parents and teachers interested in viewing information on drug abuse through graphic design and messaging designed for teens.
Unique Investment Identifier: NIDA does not report these investments as IT investments, therefore there are no UIIs for this. This work was done as part of our research and research dissemination contracts with the web portions a small component of these contracts.
URL of service: http://teens.drugabuse.gov/
Last updated June 22, 2017 at 9:00 am